Jess follows her example and sits back down, this time placing his hand in hers.
“I mean, she's shaken up, but she’s ok under the circumstances,” Knox says, leaning back in his seat, relaxing a little.
“This has gone on too long already. We need to proceed with the plan to get into headquarters and see if we can find something there. Everything he was working on before this all happened, he was doing there. We need information, so we know what we’re dealing with,” Jess says.
Steph tenses as she turns to look at him. It’s clear this is a topic of discussion they don’t agree on. We watch as their silent argument continues.
“I will go,” I blurt out, and they both swiftly turn back to look at me.
“And I’ll go with him,” Knox chimes, straightening up with an enthusiastic grin.
Jess sighs, and Steph stifles a smirk. “Although your enthusiasm is admirable, this is a job for a soldier from our world.”
“You two also need to stay as far away from him as possible. There’s no telling what kind of power he’d gain from consuming an original soul,” Jess says.
Knox’s demeanor changes dramatically when he realizes what he almost signed up for. He clears his throat.
“Yeaaahhh, let's not do that, shall we? I love my soul, and I don’t feel like having it snuffed out, only consumed by that soul sucker,” Knox says anxiously.
Steph reaches over and places her hand on Knox’s arm for reassurance. “We won’t let that happen, Knox—your soul is too pure.”
Knox’s cheeks heat as a bashful grin curls up from Steph’s words.
Jess rolls his eyes.
My thoughts turn back to Myssa. I can only imagine what would have happened if she’d never told anyone what was happening to her. She’s been holding this in for sixth months, thinking there was something wrong with her. How easy it would have been for Jasper to take her as his own. I won’t let that happen. With that kind of power, he could pass the frequency, the only barrier between our worlds. It’s clear his intention is to destroy Aetheriem and all the worlds, thereafter, decimating us all.
“I think the best thing you can do right now is help Myssa realize who she is as an Original. But if Jasper has already been tormenting her, you need to have someone close to her at all times, especially when she’s sleeping.That’s when your souls are the most vulnerable,” Jess states.
“Right now, she’s staying at Vix’s, but we’d planned on talking to her today. We just wanted to meet with your both before we did,” I confirm.
“Good, keep her safe, Zayne, and be truthful with her.” Jess’s tone indicates that there’s more to what Myssa is likely to be going through than just finding out about being an Original.
As I tense from his words, visions of Myssa and our last encounter invade my head. My fingers twitch at the memory of them interlocked with hers. The warmth of her soft skin against mine. She is the missing piece in my chaotic, puzzled world.I’d sensed her desires that night, as they mirrored my own. My soul had been lost in the darkness for so long I had forgotten what peace felt like in this endless chasm of despair. Her soul stretched out fracturing the shadows with a brilliance that soothed my own. With one touch I knew she was my peace in this fucked up situation. When I forced myself to walk away, my steps were heavy as I heard her soul singing willingly and freely for me while mine screamed frantically against the darkness as it once again swallowed me whole.
Knox and Steph are talking, but Jess cocks his head to the side as if wondering where my thought had wondered. I blink away my internal struggle and nod in understanding. I know the timeline is dwindling, and our focus right now has to be figuring out how to stop Jasper.
We say our goodbyes, and the soldiers proceed to walk us back up to the surface so we can shift back to our own reality.
Once I’m standing back in my office, I grab drinks for Knox and myself from the mini fridge. He tips the bottle at me as he twists the top off and lays haphazardly on the couch.
I sit behind my desk as both of us silently mull over the conversations from earlier. Finally, Knox breaks the silence.
“Where do we start?” He takes a swig of his beer as he sits up and leans his elbows on his knees.
“Is she still at Vix’s?”
“Yeah, as far as I know,” he says, downing the rest of his beer.
“Bring her here tonight. It’s time we formally meet,” I request.
“Alright.” Knox acknowledges me with a curt nod and stands up, pulling his phone out of his pocket. “I’m gonna head over there.” He starts to dial as he walks towards the door, pausing he turns to look at me.
“Get some rest, boss. Somehow, I think our leisurely days are about to be few and far between.”
“Yeah,” I sigh, rubbing my forehead in an attempt to fend off the headache I feel brewing from the events of today.
“Hey, Myssa?” I hear him say as he walks out the door.
